Arvas (NOR) - Equanimity

Arvas has taken a step further for sure.

They have more or less left their previous black metal roots and taken a step into more straightforward metal on their 5th studio album.
Passion ,aggression , melodies it’s all there and they don’t just play fast, Equaminity’ leaves room for the listeners to breathe with their excellent melodic guitar breaks while waiting for the trashy attacks. It’s also pure heavy metal at times and it’s impossible not to like it.

The thing about Equaminity is that you can still hear it’s Arvas.

This time their skills really reveals how powerful this band really is and finally the guitar skills really lift up the whole album.

This will truly appeal to old and new metal fans. 

The tracks are nicely composed and when you suddenly think that the coming part is going to fuck up the tracks it does the opposite and leave the listener with a smile wanting more.

‘Equanimity’  varies all the time with fast and more slowly tracks.

I honestly love this album and the majority of tracks are great.

A synth is barely used on a few tracks but it’s smoothly done and give an extra little touch without being synth driven. 

If I had to point out some tracks to listen to it would have to be the powerful track ‘My Devil’ which has it all. The intro itself will take you to wherever your imagination gets you.

‘Carven’ is another gem to check out!

I could mention more but you should listen to ‘Equaminity’  as it’s straightforward and honest metal without compromises.

I rest my case here and give lots of credits to ARVAS for releasing ‘Equaminity’’.

Truly the best and most powerful release by ARVAS ever. 

‘Equanimity’ really shows how talented this band is and I love that the guitars are more in the frontline now!

Give this album a chance even if you didn’t like ARVAS before you’re in for one hell of a ride and I hope they continue on this great path.

As a metal head I can honestly recommend this album with great pleasure!

Just fuck off & listen!

All righty?....

MORTEM ‘Ravnsvart' Review

Release date : 27.September 2019

Label : Peaceville Records

Genre : Metal
Country : Norway 

Members : 

Steinar Sverd Johnsen

Marius Vold

Hell hammer

Tor Stavenes

Dark,melodic,mystical & dramatic black metal is some of the words that come to mind when listening to this haunting album that was released decades after they broke up. Now they have reunited, if it was worth it or not you’ll find my views on if you read further...

For those not familiar with MORTEM they released a demo ‘Slow Death’ back in 1988 and a 7" which was quite good for the time being that gained a cult status amongst many in the underground scene.

Musically it could be described as death metal, but with some interesting and unusual elements of what was typical back then.

It’s impossible not to think of Arcturus while listening to this of obvious reasons.

That being said ‘Ravnsvart’ has strong enough material to stand on its own feet.

MORTEM are also slightly more raw than Arcturus were in their earlier days.

The album reveals more when you have listened a couple of times.

Musically this album is thigh,powerful and the synths does an excellent job with it’s medieval sounds to set the overall experience of ‘Ravnsvart’

If I had to point out a negative thing about ‘Ravnsvart’ it would be that I don’t really recall any of the songs if I had to separate them from each other.

This view changed after a few more listens though.

I have to add that now that I have listened to ‘Ravnsvart’ even more times and with a few breaks from it ,it’s getting easier to digest and I’m actually able to to remember most tracks individually. 

So it certainly grows on me as a listener after all. 

As most of you know, the albums that are not totally revealing themselves at first listen often tend to give the listeners the best experience in the long run and also value for the money spent.

There is a beauty to ‘Ravnsvart’ that is impossible not to like if you’re into this genre of metal and the sound of the overall production is very much like the one Arcturus had on their ‘Constellation’ EP with in my opinion was their best release and the sound is one of the main reasons for that. 

For me personally some of the mysticism disappeared on their debut ‘Aspera Hiems Symphonia’

To cut it short I very much appreciate the sound they’ve captured on this album. It sounds old (not as in badly or lo-fi production), but at the same time the production is flawless,very suitable and not overproduced.

I’d strongly recommend ‘Ravnsvart’ as a whole album as it’s surely one of the most solid,interesting and nostalgic experiences I’ve had in a while and without any weak tracks overall.

I was somewhat skeptical about if it was worth the wait and money I’d paid for the vinyl. Possibly due to high expectations since it’s their first release in 30 years and me being quite picky when actually buying stuff today.

I can luckily assure you that I had no reason to be when the music finally revealed itself...

If you are looking for something “new” whatever that means these days or for some reason don’t like synths in metal this is probably not worth it. It sure won’t hurt giving it a try though.

If ‘Ravnsvart’ will gain a cult status this time only time will tell, it’s one hell of an album though.

Personally I get the most out of ‘Ravnsvart’ when listening to the whole album as a concept album

It will drag you on a journey through ancient  Norwegian folklore,roots,forgotten realms and beautiful landscapes. Impossible to find elsewhere unless seek it.

Tracks :

1. Ravnsvart
2. Sjelsestjeler
3. Blood Horizon
4. Mørkets Monolitter
5. Truly Damned
6. Demon Shadow
7. Port Darkness
8. The Core